Swaging machine



March 27, 1945. 1 v L, MARSH 2,372,507

SWAGING MACHINE Filed OCt. 28, 1945 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWAGING MACHINE John L. Marsh, North Tonawanda, N. Y. Application october 2s, 1943, serial No. 507,997

(ci. rifs- 721) 1y Claim.

This invention relatesto a swaging machine of the type in which one or more pairs of swaging dies are moved radially toward and from the article to be swaged at the same time that they are' carried bodily around said article.

In machines of this character, as heretofore constructed, the members of each pair of dies have usually been slidable radially in guideways on a rotary carrier, which guideways havetwo circumferential guide walls arranged on the carrier andengagingjwith the correspondingly op posite sides of the dies, a fixed rear wall engaging with the-rear side of these dies, and a removable front guide wall engaging with the front side of these dies and detachably connected with the carrier.

Wheneverit became necessary to remove one of these dies from its guideway it has been customary heretofore to rst remove the front guide wall and then drive the respective dieout of its guideway by hitting the same manually from the rear of the carrier which operation was not only inconvenient but also: time consuming because it required the operator to gei-J in the rear of the machine, as well as the front thereof, when it became necessary to remove a die.

It is the object of this invention to provide a machine of this character with means whereby the removal of a die from its guideway in the rotary carrier is effected automatically and pref.-

erably by spring pressure, thereby facilitating` this operation and not' only avoiding the loss of time heretofore required for this purpose, but also enabling the work to be done more conveniently and easily.

. In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a swaging machine equipped with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof with some parts omitted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged. scale, taken on line 34, Fig. 2, and showing the members of a pairv of cooperating dies in their working position on the carrier which rotates them and guides them relative to the workpiece which is being operated upon.

Fig. 4 is dies of a pair projecting forwardly from its operative position by means of this invention.

Figs. 5 and y6 are fragmentary cross sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2. f

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a cable which is provided at its opposite ends with terminals open at its front of this cage.-

a similarview showing one 'of the i yswaging operation is adapted to be secured thereto by a swaging machine which is provided with this invention.

In the following description like reference numerals indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawing.

An example of the work performed by this machine is shown in Fig. '7 which represents a cable I0 of wire strands which are twisted together and two terminals or ttings which are arranged at opposite ends of this cable and each having an inner tubular sleeve II secured to one end of the cable by swaging the sleeve thereon and` an outer eye I2 or like part adapted to be connected with some other member.

The numeral I3'represents a stationary head which forms partv of the frame of the machine and which is provided with a horizontal circular opening I4 containing the-elements whereby the performed. Within the opening I4 is secured a ring I5 the bore of which forms a cylindrical track or runway which is en;- gaged by the outer side of an annular row of hammer or operating rolls I6 and upon which the latter rotate about ytheir individual axes and alsomove bodily around` the aXis yof this ring during the operation of the machine.

Within the runway ring ,or annular track is arranged an annular roll rack or cage II which rotates about a horizontal axis parallel with the axes of the operating rolls and which is provided with an annular row of pockets I8 each of which is open on its radial outer and inner sides and also end. In each of these pockets one of the operating rolls is loosely mounted so that the same is -free to rotate and ybears, with its outer side against the bore of the runway ring I5 while the inner side of the same projects slightly beyond the inner side of the rack or cage. The rear end of each roll bears against the closed rear end of the respective pocket I8 in the roll cage while its front bears against a front annular wear plate or ring I9 which is arranged in front `The front wear ringand theroll cage engage their peripheries with the bore* of the runway ring and are free to slide circumferentially thereon. The front Wear ring engages with the inner side of a front face plate 20 of circular lform secured to the front side of the frame head, The rear side ofthe roll cage or rack engages with a rear wear plate 2 I` of circular form and capable of sliding circumferentially thereon. Thisrear wear lplate is mounted on a lbearing plate 22 secured to the rear side of-the frame head. i v Centrally within thespace boundedby the an'- nular row of operating rolls, and the rack or cage and the front wear plate is arranged a rotary die carrier or holder 23 which is provided on its rear side with a spindle 24 whereby the same is supported and driven. This spindle is journaled in a bearing 25 on the rear bearing plate 22 and is rotated by means which include. a belt 26lpassing around a driving pulley 21 secured to the rear part of the spindle, as shown in Fig. 1.

Upon the carrier are mounted one or more pairs of forming dies 28, one of such pairs being shown, for example, in the present case. The members of this pair of dies 4are slidable radially on the carrier on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of the carrier and are adapted to engage their inner ends or faces with oppostie sides of the workpiece for shaping or reducing the latter. These dies are guided in radial guideways arranged diametrically on opposite sides of the carrier, these guideways having two fixed circumferentially opposite longitudinal guide walls 29, `2S

which are formed on the `body of vthe carrier, a

rear xed guide wall 30 which is formed on the rear part of the carrier, and a detachable front wall which consists of a central section 3| se-v cured by screws to the carrier across the inner parts of the guideways, and two outer sections 32 secured by screws to the front side of the carrier across the outer `parts of these guideways. Linings or wearing platesv 33 may be interposed between the 'longitudinal and rear sides of the dies and the respective guide walls of the carrier for taking up wear and also varying the size of the dies to be used. The central section of the front guide wall is provided with a central guide opening 34 whereby the workpiece is guided in a central position between the dies. Within the outer parts of these guideways hacker blocks orkickers 35 slide radially, each of these blocks engaging its inner end with the companion die in the inner part of the respective guideway and the outer end of the same being engaged by the several hammer rolls. Each of these kicker blocks is held in place within the outer part of the respective radial guideway'by one of the front guide wall sections 32.

On the front side of the frame head a gate 38 is mounted `to move toward and from the die carrier and provided with a central conical guide opening 31 for guiding the workpiece into the guide opening of the front guide wall of the dies.

During the operation ofthe machine the rotation of the die carrier causes the outer ends of the backing blocks to be engaged successively by the several hammer rolls whereby the latter and the dies are intermittently kickedinwardly with a cam action and thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and a succession of hammer 'blows are delivered continuously by the dies against opposite sides of the workpiece which has been placed between the dies. As each hammer roll is engaged by a backing block the same is rolled slight+ ly on the circular runway thereby causing theroll cage or rack to shift its position circumferentially step by step in a manner well known in this type of swaging machine.

Whenl the cable only requires a terminal at one of its ends the cable is usually inserted between the dies by passing the cable rearwaidklybetween the dies with the opposite inner end of` cable in advance -until the sleeve of the terminal is between the dies, as shown in Fig. 3, after which this sleeve is contracted or reduced in diameter by operating the machine and caused to grip the outer end of the cable so as to be securely connected therewith. After the terminal has been thus secured to the outer end of the cable the same is withdrawn forwardly from between the dies and replaced by another cable and terminal of this character without requiring either of the dies to be shifted out of their normal position from the rotary carrier. Other work of a like character having a narrow body and an enlarged member or tting at only one end thereof may be similarly connected bythe swaging operation between the dies of this machine. When, however, it is necessary to swage two members, which are of larger diameter than the width of the gap between the dies while the same are in an open position, and which in the finished product are arranged on opposite sides of a thinner or narrower body, such asl attaching comparatively wide terminals to opposite ends of a narrow cable of the character shown in Fig. 7, it is customary to rst attach a terminal to the outer end of the cable while its inner end is free, in the manner described. Thereafter `the cable is Withdrawn from between the dies and reversed so that the end thereof having the terminal attached thereto is innermost and then passed rearwardly through the space normally occupied by the dies. In order, however, to permit of doing this from the front side of the machine at least one of the dies has to be removed either wholly or partly from the respective guideway on the die carrier to provide the required clearance and this has usually been accomplished by first moving the gate 36 away from the front side of the die carrier, then moving the central detachable guide wall section 3l from the die carrier'and then pushing the respective'die forwardly either wholly or partly out of its guideway by means of a tool engaging the rear side of this die. This manner of removing a die from the die carrier or holder is not only very inconvenient but it also slowsl up production onaccount of the loss of time and the undue stoppage of the machine. After the second terminal has been swaged on the outer or front end of the cable it becomes necessary to again temporarily remove one of the dies of a pair either wholly or partly inasmuch as the normal gap between the dies 28 when farthest apart does not furnish adequate room for this purpose,l thereby further inconveniencing the operator and wasting time and preventing work of this character from being done in the most economical manner.

Means have therefore been provided in accordance with this invention whereby, upon disconnecting thecentral section 3| of the front wall from the die carrier, the respective die will be automatically projected forwardly from its guideway a vsluiicient extent that its complete removal can be effected'manually, if necessary, by grasping the front end thereof, and withdrawing this die forwardly from its guideway either wholly or as much as may be necessary.

Although this result may be accomplished by various means, those shown in the drawing are preferred on account of their simplicity oi construction, the certainty of their operation, and their freedom from liability to get out of order.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6, these automatic die ejecting means comprise a longitudinal pocket or recess 38 formed on the rear side of one of the dies'and a helical compression spring 39 arranged in said recess and having its front or inner end bearing against the bottom of this recess and its outer or rear end bearing against the adjacent part of the rear wear plate or liner 33.

When assembling the dies of a swaging machine employing an automatic ejecting device of this construction that one of a pair of dies having no jecting spring associated therewith is rst slid rearwardly into its respectivelguideway in the die carrier, then the companion die having -a recess 38 with a spring 39 therein is inserted in its gudeway and pushed rearwardly until its rear side bears against the corresponding side of this guideway thereby compressing the ejecting spring 39, then the front wall section 3| of the guideways is secured to the die carrier, thereby holding both dies in their normal operative position in their guideways. Y

While the parts of the swaging machine are inthis position fittings, such as terminals, may be swaged onto one end of a cable without re,-v moving a die from the die carrier inasmuch as such articles can be readily inserted between the dies and also removed therefrom, after being finished, from the front side of the machine without requiring any dismantling of the machine.

When,. however, it is necessary to provide sulcient clearance Space to permit of passing a fitting from the front side of the machine rearwardly through the space normally occupied by the dies the central section of the front wall of the die guideways is detached from the die carrier and when this is done the resilience of the ejecting spring 39 immediately pushes the spring loaded die forwardly out of its guideway a sufcient extent, as shown in Fig. 4, so that this die may be grasped manually and then a complete removal of the same may be effected without the use of a tool at the back of the machine.

After the spring loaded die has been moved forwardly either completely out of its guideway, or sufliciently to provide the necessary clearance, that end of a cable or the like having a terminal or like fitting previously secured thereto may be passed rearwardly through'the gap between the dies', as shown by dotted` lines in Fig. 4, after which the respective spring loaded die may be again pushed rearwardly into its normal position within its guideway and retained therein by restoring the front wall section 3| of this guideway, thereby permitting resumption of the operation of swaging a like terminal on the front end of the cable, as previously described with reference to the showing in Fig. 3.

When the second terminal has been thus secured to the front end of the cable in addition to the one at its rear end, it again is necessary .to widen the space between the dies to permit the narrow cable with its Wide rear terminal or tting to be withdrawn forwardly from the machine, and this is accomplished in the same manner as that described with reference to preparing the die means for permitting a cable having an enlargement, such as a terminal, at its advancing end to be passed rearwardly through the die gap.

The passage of a terminal or other fitting through the gap between the dies when one of them is not wholly withdrawn from the carriage is possible when the recesses on the faces of the dies are of a depth or form which willpermit such use, but if partial withdrawal of a die does not provide the required clearance then the respective die must be removed in its entirety, before a fitting can-be moved through this clearance space opposite the face of the remaining die.

Owing yto the convenience and rapidity with which the die means of a swaging machine can be opened or widened to. permit the enlarged parts and narrow parts of articles to be passed backwardly andV forwardly through the vdie gap without requiring the operator to reach behind the machine for this purpose, the operation of doing Work of this Character is facilitated and the output materially increased, thereby eiecting a substantial economy in cost of doing work of this character.

I claim as my invention:

A swaging machine comprising a supporting head provided on'its inner side with an annular track, an annular row of operating rolls having their outer sides inrolling engagement with said track, a rotary rack arranged within said track and provided with an annular row of pockets each of which contains one of said ro1ls,'a rotary carrier arranged within said rack and provided with a pair of' radial guideways arranged on diametrically opposite sides of its axis, each of said guideways having two crcumferentially cpposite guide walls which are fixed relative to the carrier, a rear guide wall which is fixed relative to the carrier and a front guide wall which is detachably connected with the carrier, andspring means for automatically ejecting one 'of said dies forward from its guideway when said front guide wall is detached from said carrier,

said spring means including a recess formed on the rear side of the respective die, and a helical spring which is arranged in said recess and bears at its front end against the bottom of said recess and at its rear end against the adjacent part of said rear guide wall and which is compressed when the respective die is moved backwardly into its guideway but which expands and pushes said die forwardly in its guideway when the front guide wall is detached from the carrier.

JOHN L. MARSH. 

